Maroubra vs South Coogee: true annual running costs compared (2026)
Last updated July 2026 · council rates current NSW schedules, ATO 91c/km, Opal & Translink fares, AER electricity benchmarks
Maroubra and South Coogee are both Randwick rates (OLG suburbs, sitting 9.1 km and 8.3 km from Sydney CBD respectively, and are commonly compared by buyers weighing up running costs within the same council area.
South Coogee runs $668 a year cheaper than Maroubra, driven mostly by home insurance. Over 10 years at 3% growth that gap compounds to about $7,657.
Over 10 years these two cost about the same to run. The difference here isn't money — it's location, schools and lifestyle.
Get the free report: 10-year costs, flood & fire risk, crime, schools and overall verdict →Maroubra
South Coogee
Annual cost breakdown
| Category | Maroubra | South Coogee | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council rates | $1,723 | $1,723 | - |
| Water & sewerage | $1,548 | $1,548 | - |
| Commute (driving) | $2,818 | $2,600 | +$218 |
| Commute (public transport) | $1,920 | $1,920 | - |
| Home insurance | $2,300 | $1,850 | +$450 |
| Body corporate (unit) | $2,600 | $2,600 | - |
| Total (driving) | $8,389 | $7,721 | +$668 |
| Total (public transport) | $7,491 | $7,041 | +$450 |
Green = cheaper. Commute: ATO 91c/km, 220 working days. Insurance AI-estimated; actual premiums vary. Council rates: average residential rate (NSW, IPART-uplifted).
| Dwelling | Maroubra | South Coogee | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| House | $2,342 | $2,342 | - |
| Unit | $1,909 | $1,909 | - |
Estimated from AER residential benchmarks for each suburb's climate zone at 2026-27 regulated prices for each suburb's electricity network, including supply charge (AER Default Market Offer caps, or the QCA price in regional Queensland; unit ≈ 75% of a house). Get the free report for a breakdown by your exact number of occupants.
Cost breakdown chart
Annual cost breakdown — Maroubra vs South Coogee (2026-27)
What the numbers show
South Coogee costs $668 less per year to run by car. Held over ten years at 3% annual cost growth, that gap compounds to $7,657 in favour of South Coogee.
The biggest single gap is home insurance at $450 per year. Maroubra carries medium flood risk, which pushes estimated premiums higher.
On public transport the gap is $450 per year, $7,491 from Maroubra versus $7,041 from South Coogee.
Where the difference actually comes from
- Council rates is identical at $1,723 a year.
- Water and sewerage is identical at $1,548 a year.
- Driving commute favours South Coogee by $218 a year, $2,600 against $2,818.
- Building insurance favours South Coogee by $450 a year, $1,850 against $2,300.
Both suburbs sit in the same council area, so the rates line is identical and none of the difference between them comes from council. What separates them is commute distance and the insurance band.
Flood risk is rated medium in Maroubra against low in South Coogee, which feeds the insurance estimate. The catchment state school scores 8.4 in South Coogee against 7.4 in Maroubra, on ACARA's ICSEA percentile scaled to ten.
10-year cumulative cost projection
| Year | Maroubra cumulative | South Coogee cumulative | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $8,389 | $7,721 | $668 |
| Year 3 | $25,930 | $23,865 | $2,065 |
| Year 5 | $44,538 | $40,992 | $3,546 |
| Year 10 | $96,170 | $88,513 | $7,657 |
Assumes 3% annual cost growth. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Frequently asked questions
Is Maroubra or South Coogee cheaper to live in?
South Coogee is cheaper to run by car at $7,721 per year versus $8,389 for Maroubra, a difference of $668 annually. Figures cover council rates, water, commute (ATO 91c/km), and home insurance. Source: SuburbCost 2026 data.
What are council rates in Maroubra and South Coogee?
Annual council rates for a house are $1,723 in Maroubra (Randwick rates (OLG) and $1,723 in South Coogee (Randwick rates (OLG). Water and sewerage adds $1,548 in Maroubra and $1,548 in South Coogee. Both figures are the average residential rate reported to the Office of Local Government, uplifted by each council's IPART rate peg.
How does the commute cost compare between Maroubra and South Coogee?
Annual driving commute costs are $2,818 from Maroubra and $2,600 from South Coogee to Sydney CBD (ATO 91c/km). Public transport costs $1,920 from Maroubra and $1,920 from South Coogee.
What is the 10-year cost difference between Maroubra and South Coogee?
At 3% annual cost growth, Maroubra costs a cumulative $96,170 and South Coogee costs $88,513 over 10 years by car. The cumulative difference is $7,657 in favour of South Coogee. Excludes purchase price, mortgage, and personal expenses.
Which of Maroubra and South Coogee is best to actually live in?
You've got the costs. Get the free personalised report for the rest: a clear verdict on which suburb wins, the full flood, fire and crime risk profile, nearest schools, estimated electricity cost by number of occupants, and your own loan or rent stress-tested over 10 years. No spam.
Related comparisons
Sources: Randwick rates (OLG and Randwick rates (OLG rate data, water utility pricing (QLD: Queensland Urban Utilities / Unitywater; NSW: Sydney Water / Hunter Water), ATO 91c/km, and SuburbCost AI insurance estimates. Data updated July 2026.